Find out how popular the last name Pius is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Pius.
A name meaning "pious" or "devout", often taken by popes.
Pius, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Pius surname is from the 2010 census data.
Pius is the 66931st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Pius surname appeared 295 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Pius.
We can also compare 2010 data for Pius to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 66931 | 88461 | -27.71% |
| Count | 295 | 195 | 40.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.10 | 0.07 | 35.29% |
The surname PIUS originates from the Latin language and can be traced back to ancient Rome. It was initially used as a cognomen, a third name given to Romans to denote a personal characteristic or achievement. PIUS translates to "dutiful," "pious," or "devout" in English.
In the early days of the Roman Empire, the name PIUS was bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional devotion to their family, religion, or the state. One of the earliest recorded examples is the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, who ruled from 138 to 161 AD. He earned the cognomen PIUS for his benevolence and respect for tradition.
As the Roman Empire expanded, the name PIUS spread across Europe and became a common surname among those influenced by Latin culture. It is prevalent in regions with strong ties to the Roman Catholic Church, such as Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
During the Middle Ages, the name PIUS appeared in various historical records, including monastic chronicles and ecclesiastical documents. One notable bearer was Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini in 1405, who served as the head of the Catholic Church from 1458 until his death in 1464.
Another prominent figure was the humanist scholar and poet Pietro Bembo, born in 1470, whose full name was Pietro Bembo PIUS. He was a prominent figure in the Renaissance and served as a cardinal and the Vatican's official historian.
In the 16th century, the name PIUS gained further prominence with the election of Pope Pius V (1504-1572), who is remembered for his efforts to reform the Catholic Church and his unwavering stance against Protestantism during the Counter-Reformation.
Other notable individuals with the surname PIUS include the Italian Jesuit missionary and explorer Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), who played a significant role in introducing Christianity to China, and the Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), known for his innovative compositions and violin techniques.
The variations in spelling and pronunciation of the surname PIUS can be observed across different regions and languages. In some areas, it may be spelled as PIOUS, PIOS, or PIOZ, reflecting local linguistic influences and dialects.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Pius.
The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Pius was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 62.03% | 183 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 7.80% | 23 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 27.80% | 82 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 1.69% | 5 |
Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.
Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Pius has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 62.03% | 78.46% | -23.39% |
| Black | 7.80% | 4.62% | 51.21% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 27.80% | 13.85% | 66.99% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 1.69% | (S)% | (S)% |
The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.
The history and meaning of the name Pius was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pius, please contact us.
We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.
If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!
<a href="https://namecensus.com/last-names/pius-surname-popularity/">Pius last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.
Simple as that.